Grant Opportunity for School Libraries

GlobeNewswire via COMTEX -- City National Bank today announced that it is now accepting applications for grants to support literacy-based projects at public and private elementary, middle and high schools in California, Nevada and New York.

Educators interested in applying for a literacy grant can access an online application by visiting Reading Is the Way Up. Any full-time teacher, librarian or administrator at schools in counties where City National has offices is eligible to apply. California counties include Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Ventura. The Nevada counties are Carson City, Clark, Douglas and Washoe.

Approximately 100 grants totaling up to $75,000 may be awarded. Grants will provide up to $500 for the recipients to create, augment or expand literacy projects that are judged to be creative and engaging, and that may help improve student achievement. Awards can be used for books, videos, CDs, DVDs, computer software or hardware, or in other ways so long as the recipient shows that the project for which funds are sought will support literacy.

City National's Reading is The way up(R) literacy program will award the grants. Applications will be accepted through November 30, 2010, and awardees will be notified early next year. Grant funds must be expended by December 31, 2011.

"We are excited to kick off our sixth year of offering teachers the opportunity to apply for funding that would help them develop more literacy projects in their classrooms," said Carolyn Rodriguez, vice president and program administrator for City National. "Literacy is one of the key building blocks to educating our children, and with all of the cutbacks in state education budgets the need for this type of grant program is paramount for teachers today."

Applicants from the same school may apply individually or as part of a team. Each team may receive up to $1,500. Over the past five years the bank has awarded 450 literacy grants totaling $325,000.

Past grants have been used for everything from literacy computer programs to art/reading projects to field trips. In one case, an elementary school used the funds to make 20 Galileo telescopes to facilitate the use of reading, writing, math, engineering and science skills. In another, funds were used to create a sight word game called 'Quick as a Snap' to enhance reading skills with low achieving reading students.